My People

Vol. 18, Issue 11, November 2005

"If my people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from
their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14

Faithfulness To Word Of God Is Key To
Christian Life

Pope Benedict XVI emphasized
the central place of the Word of God in the life of the Church and the
individual Christian in a message to participants in an international congress
commemorating the 40th anniversary of Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on
Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum). The Pope's message, dated September 16,
follows:

"I offer my most cordial greeting to all of
you who are taking part in the Congress on Sacred Scripture in the Life of the
Church, an event organized by the Catholic Biblical Federation and the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the promulgation of Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on
Divine Revelation. I congratulate you on this initiative, connected with one of
the most important Documents of the Second Vatican
Council.

"I greet the Cardinals and Bishops, who are
the first witnesses of the Word of God, the theologians who investigate, explain
and, translate it into today's language, the Pastors who seek in it appropriate
solutions for the problems of our time.

"I warmly
thank all who work in the service of the translation and circulation of the
Bible, providing the means for explaining, teaching, and interpreting its
message. In this regard, my special thanks go to the Catholic Biblical
Federation for its activity, the biblical ministry it promotes, and its faithful
support of the directives of the Magisterium as well as to its spirit of
openness to ecumenical collaboration in the biblical
context.

"I express my deepest joy at the presence
at this Congress of "Fraternal Delegates" of the Churches and Ecclesial
Communities of East and West, and I greet with cordial respect the
representatives who have spoken on behalf of the great world
Religions.

"The Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum,
whose drafting I personally witnessed as a young theologian, taking part in the
lively discussions that went with it, begins with a deeply meaningful sentence:
'Dei Verbum religiose audiens et fidenter proclamans, Sacrosancta Synodus. . .'
('Hearing the Word of God with reverence, and proclaiming it with faith, the
Sacred Synod. . .') (n. 1).

"With these words the
Council points out a descriptive aspect of the Church: she is a community
that listens to and proclaims the Word of God.

"The
Church does not live on herself but on the Gospel, and in the Gospel always and
ever anew finds the directions for her journey. This is a point that every
Christian must understand and apply to himself or herself: only those who
first listen to the Word can become preachers of it.

"Indeed, they must not teach their own wisdom but the wisdom of God, which often
appears to be foolishness in the eyes of the world (cf. 1 Cor
1:23).

"The Church knows well that Christ lives in
the Sacred Scriptures. For this very reason – as the Constitution stresses – she
has always venerated the divine Scriptures in the same way as she venerates the
Body of the Lord (cf. Dei Verbum, n.21).

"In view of
this, St Jerome, cited by the conciliar Document, said that ignorance of the
Scriptures is ignorance of Christ (cf. Dei Verbum, n.
25).

"The Church and the Word of God are inseparably
linked. The Church lives on the Word of God and the Word of God echoes through
the Church, in her teaching and throughout her life (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 8). The
Apostle Peter, therefore, reminds us that no prophecy contained in Scripture can
be subjected to a personal interpretation. 'Prophecy has never been put forward
by man's willing it. It is rather that men impelled by the Holy Spirit have
spoken under God's influence' (2 Pt 1:20).

"We are
grateful to God that in recent times, and thanks to the impact made by the
Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, the fundamental importance of the Word of God
has been deeply re-evaluated. From this has derived a renewal of the Church's
life, especially in her preaching, catechesis, theology, and spirituality, and
even in the ecumenical process. The Church must be constantly renewed and
rejuvenated and the Word of God, which never ages and is never depleted,
is a privileged means to achieve this goal. Indeed, it is the Word of God,
through the Holy Spirit, which always guides us to the whole truth (cf. Jn
16:13).

"In this context, I would like in particular
to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio divina: the
diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that
intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God Who is speaking, and in
praying, responds to Him with trusting openness of heart (cf. Dei Verbum, n.
25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church - I
am convinced of it - a new spiritual springtime.

"As
a strong point of biblical ministry, Lectio divina should therefore be
increasingly encouraged, also through the use of new methods, carefully thought
through and in step with the times. It should never be forgotten that the Word
of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (cf. Ps
119[118]:105).

"In invoking God's Blessing upon your
work, your projects, and the Congress in which you are taking part, I join in
the hope that enlivens you: May the Word of the Lord make progress (cf. 2 Thes
3:1) to the very ends of the earth, so that through the proclamation of
salvation the whole world through hearing it may believe, through belief it may
hope, and through hope it may come to love (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 1). I thank you
with all my heart!"

Vatican Urges Continued Commitment To
Youths

Francisco Dionisio, representing the
Vatican delegation to the United Nations, urged continued commitment to young
people in a U.N. meeting October 6 in New York. This meeting of the 60th
General Assembly focused on "World Program Of Action For Youth To The Year 2000
And Beyond."

Mr. Dionisio's statement
follows:

"My delegation is pleased to participate in
this important discussion on the World Program of Action for Youth. It was once
said flippantly: "youth is wasted on the young"; nevertheless, the Holy See is
pleased that the United Nations continues to have a high regard for their
importance.

"Recently, at a gathering of hundreds of
thousands of young people in Cologne (Germany), Pope Benedict XVI echoed the
sentiments of young people around the world, saying, 'We are concerned for the
state of the world and we are asking: "Where do I find standards to live by,
what are the criteria that govern responsible cooperation in building the
present and the future of our world?"'

"Young people
aspire to be great. But to achieve greatness, they must be mindful of others,
especially those who are without. Nor can they achieve this alone. They need the
leadership and resources of governments, the interest and cooperation of
non-governmental organizations, and the good will and hard work of all
people.

"In the light of this concern, my delegation
has carefully followed developments since the launch ten years ago of the World
Program of Action for Youth. Its ten priority areas for action touched upon
significant issues and themes that affect the lives of young people and our
world.

"The Secretary-General's 2005 World Youth
Report returns to some troubling elements that still affect young people's lives
today. Addressing one of those concerns, my delegation reiterates its position
on the use of the expression 'sexual and reproductive health,' as contained in
the Report. My delegation understands it as a holistic promotion of the health
of women, men, youth, and children. It does not consider abortion or access to
abortion as a dimension of these terms.

"The Holy
See also continues to be fully committed to the role of youth in the global
economy, poverty, education, and employment. Currently in the world, there are
over 196,000 Catholic primary and secondary schools attended by more than 51
million children and youths. Additionally, there are almost 1,000 Catholic
universities, colleges, and other institutes, educating more than 4 million
young adults. Young people are being helped to receive the education they
deserve and are encouraged to give back to others. Education is the gift that
continues to give.

"With respect to youth in
relation to society, environment, leisure, and participation, by means of
thousands of youth groups around the world, the Catholic Church shares and
promotes the importance of caring for one's self, the environment, and one's
peers.

"Regarding youth at risk, health, drugs,
delinquency, and discrimination against girls and young women, there are almost
12,000 Catholic hospitals and institutions of healthcare and preventative
medicine throughout the world. Trained local professionals, through their work
there, support the principle that all human life is sacred, and that each person
has worth. The young are clearly cared for as precious and vulnerable members of
society.

"Mr. President, the ability to accomplish
the specific goals of the ten priorities boils down to commitment. The round
table discussion for young people called it 'making commitments that matter.' We
know that we live in a complex and complicated world, and many young people know
that such commitment requires three things: recognizing needs, especially in the
poorest members of our world; planning a response; and following
through.

"The Holy See encourages the U.N. to
continue to identify the needs of the world's young people, especially of the
poorest and weakest of them. It further recommits itself to working together
with the international community to develop realistic, appropriate, immediate,
and long-term responses. Building a better world is a lifelong process.
Oftentimes it is a very long journey. But young people recognize that their
journey is just beginning. And precisely given their youth, they are still at
the initial steps in paving a path for success in the future. Every person of
every age matters as we work together to build a world that is safe and happy
for young people. . .

IN DEFENSE OF LIFE

Words To Ponder

Fred H. Summe, vice president of Northern Kentucky Right to Life

by Fred H. Summe

A great author or speaker possesses the ability to express profound thoughts in
few words, and in a form readily understood.

The
following are examples of such, which are worthy of being read and
pondered.

Terri Schiavo

"A fundamental
moral principle consistent with faith in God revealed in Jesus Christ is to
always care rather than kill…Although it may sometimes appear to be an act of
compassion, killing is never a means of caring. . .A person who is in a
'persistent vegetative state' is not a vegetable, especially not to those who
know her and love her. The love that Mrs. Schiavo's parents and siblings
have toward her, and the care they display toward her, is of immense
value. It should be humbly acknowledged that no one – no physician, no
ethicist, no judge, nor any other human being – can absolutely know the effect
that the power of love has upon someone even as severely disabled as Mrs.
Schiavo."
– Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, United
Methodist Church

"I should like particularly to
underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by
artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a
medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle,
ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally
obligatory…"
– John Paul II, March 20, 2004,
Address to the Participants in the International
Congress

Life

"The deliberate decision to
deprive an innocent human being of his life is always morally evil and can never
be licit either as an end in itself or as a means to a good end. It is in
fact a grave act of disobedience to the moral law, and indeed to God Himself,
the author and guarantor of that
law."
– Pope John Paul II, Evangelium
Vitae

"The unconditional commitment to every
unborn life, to which the Church feels bound from the very beginning, permits no
ambiguity or compromise."
– Pope John Paul II to
German Bishops

Grief

"The taking of the
life of another human being has a life-changing impact on a person…I can't give
it a name, but I can tell you…I struggled…with enormous grief and
depression."
– Post-abortive mother quoted in
Forbidden Grief

"They wonder what the child
would be like, who he or she would look like, the voice, the smile, the joy in
the eyes, the beautiful ring of the word, 'Mommy.' They imagine it
all! That is their grief; they do imagine what their lives would be like
if they had not had the abortion."
– Bishop Robert
F. Vasa, Baker, Oregon

Cloning

"When, as
today, there is a market in human organs, when fetuses are produced to make
spare organs available or to make progress in research and preventive medicine,
many regard the human content of these practices as implicit. But the
contempt for man that underlies it, when man is used and abused, lead – like it
or not – to a descent into hell."
– Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI

Roe v.
Wade

"Roe v. Wade is increasingly recognized as
bad law, bad medicine, and bad social policy. Most Americans object to an
unlimited right to abortion. Therefore such a policy can be kept in place
only by extraordinary life support – by insisting that Roe is untouchable,
regardless of the evidence. Abortion advocates know that any return of
this issue to the democratic process would produce a very different policy from
what the Court created. But false judicial doctrines do not have a right
to live. Human beings do."
– Committee for
Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops

Issues

"Not all issues have the
same weight as abortion and euthanasia. There may be a legitimate
diversity of opinion, even among Catholics, about waging war or applying the
death penalty, but not, however, with regard to abortion and
euthanasia."
– Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict
XVI

"Many people are very, very concerned with
the children of India and with the children of Africa where quite a few die of
hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about all the violence
in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very
good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions who
are being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this
is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today – abortion which brings people
to such blindness.

"And for this I appeal in India
and I appeal everywhere – 'Let us bring the child back.' The child is
God's gift to the family. Each child is created in the special image and
likeness of God for greater things – to love and to be
loved."
– Mother Teresa, Address at National Prayer
Breakfast, Washington, D.C.

U.N. Needs Renewal To Meet Needs Of
Poor

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary
of State, addressed the Summit of the Heads of State and Government during the
U.N.'s 60th General Assembly on September 16. In his address, the Cardinal
emphasized the need for reforms so that the U.N. could meet the needs of the
poor, and promote peace and solidarity.

Cardianl
Sodano's address follows;

"It is my honor to convey
the most cordial greetings of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to you and to the
Heads of State and Government here assembled, and to the other representatives
of the Organization's Member States.

"My voice also
echoes the sentiments of Catholics throughout the world who look to the United
Nations as an institution that is ever more necessary for the peace and progress
of the whole of humanity.

"Sixty years have passed
since that day, June 26, 1945, when this Organization was born, with a view to
implementing the four great goals listed in the Preamble of its Statute. Much
has been achieved in the service of humanity during these
years.

"Nevertheless, time has taken its toll upon
this agency, as upon every human undertaking. It is now widely believed that the
U.N. needs to be renewed, in response to the great challenges of the present
day.

"It is true that the U.N. is not a
super-government. Rather, it is the result of the political will of individual
member countries.

"Yet ordinary men and women, the
many millions who constitute the 'we the people' of the U.N. Charter, are saying
to the leaders of nations: give us a modern institution, capable of taking
resolutions and then enforcing them.

"This is an
insistent appeal issued to us by men and women who are disheartened by promises
made and not kept, resolutions adopted and not
enforced.

"Their cry must instill in us the
determination necessary to undertake an institutional reform of the U.N., a
reform that is attentive to the real demands of our peoples rather than to the
balance of power.

"In this regard, it must be said
that the mechanisms established in Chapters VI and VII of the Statute of the
United Nations retain all their value and contain the criteria necessary for
pre-empting the threats to peace and for guaranteeing collective
security.

"Today, however, this juridical framework
must be complemented by the necessary international juridical instruments for
disarmament and the control of arms, for the fight against terrorism and
international crime, and for effective cooperation between the United Nations
and regional agencies, in order to resolve situations of
conflict.

Responsibilities of the U.N.

"The long history of peacekeeping operations, with their successes and failures,
offers a rich reservoir of experience from which to develop parameters for
future action in conflict resolution.

"To this end,
the Holy See is in favor of the creation of an agency to restore peace to
countries that have suffered armed conflicts. The Holy See, in other words, is
in favor of the Peacebuilding Commission, intended to design and implement an
ambitious strategy to overcome those elements of ethnic rivalry which give rise
to conflicts and which could reignite them in the
future.

"The tragedies that have occurred in the
Balkans, in the Middle East, and in Africa should cause us to reflect. What is
important now is the commitment we make to foster a culture of conflict
prevention, but we must also explore thoroughly the problem of the use of force
to disarm the aggressor.

"The 'responsibility to
protect' arises from a very important political and juridical concept, developed
progressively in the 60 years of the U.N.'s existence. In essence, it refers to
the pre-eminent dignity of every single man and woman over the State and over
every ideological system.

"In connection with the
reform of the U.N., the Holy See asks Member States to have the courage to
continue their discussions on the application and practical consequences of the
'Responsibility to protect,' in order to find the most opportune solution,
through the Security Council and in accordance with the indications given in
Chapter VII of the U.N. Statute, to those situations in which national
authorities either cannot or will not protect their own populations in the face
of internal or external threats. The Statute of the United Nations, in its
Preamble, says specifically that the United Nations Organization was created 'in
order to save future generations from the scourge of
war.'

"For this purpose, it remains an obligation in
justice in the service of human dignity to attain and even to surpass the
Millennium Development Goals, thereby establishing an essential pre-condition
for peace and collective security, and for the elimination or substantial
reduction of the threat from terrorism and international
crime.

Commitment to development

"Focusing our attention now on the great theme of development, we must
acknowledge that recent years have witnessed a number of promising gestures on
the part of governments. For example, the proposal for new mechanisms to finance
development (the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account, the International Finance
Facility, the Nouveaux mécanismes de taxation internationale recently proposed
by the French Government and other States, etc.), and especially the recent
decisions of the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, are greatly appreciated by the Holy
See.

"However, much work remains to be done in order
to achieve greater economic and financial solidarity. This must include a
solution to the debt problem of the poorest countries and of average-income
countries with serious foreign debt problems, together with the relaunching of
public development aid (O.D.A., Official Development Assistance) and a generous
opening of markets to assist poor countries.

"It is
true that such actions by developed countries must be accompanied by a renewed
commitment on the part of the governments of developing countries, who have a
duty to combat corruption, to guarantee the rule of law, and above all to take
responsibility for the social aspects of development, such as education, job
security, and basic health care for all.

"To a world
already exposed to pandemics, while others are at risk of breaking out, to the
millions without access to basic health care, medicine, and drinking water, we
cannot offer an ambiguous, reductive, or even ideological vision of health. For
example, would it not be better to speak clearly of the 'health of women and
children' instead of using the term 'reproductive health'? Could there be a
desire to return to the language of a 'right to abortion'?

Holy See's
Contribution

"Mr. President, the Holy See has a
spiritual mission first and foremost, but in consequence of this it has a duty
to be present in the life of nations and a commitment to promote justice and
solidarity among peoples.

"Armed with this
conviction, the Holy See reaffirms its full support for the objectives of this
Summit and undertakes to do what it can to help the Summit produce the desired
fruits rapidly, so that an era of peace and social justice may quickly follow.
The words spoken by the late Pope John Paul II on his famous Journey to Chile in
1987 have lost none of their relevance: 'Los pobres no pueden esperar' –
the poor cannot wait! Thank you!"

Modern Advances Require Rethinking
Of Role Of Elderly

As people live longer in
today's society, the role of the elderly must be rethought. The elderly
are a valuable resource and deserve to be treated with dignity and
respect.

The United Nations recently considered the
elderly during a meeting of the Third Commission of the General Assembly on
follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World
Assembly on Aging.

Mons. Celestino Migliore,
representing the Vatican, spoke at an October 4 meeting in New York. His
address follows:

"Three years ago, in Madrid, the
Holy See described the elderly as 'the guardians of the collective memory,
conservers of inter-generational relationships, and transmitters of authentic
values that defined their existence.' But we need to remind ourselves that these
noble sentiments will remain empty words if we remember the elderly only when we
need them. The fact that people now live longer requires a rethinking of the
role of the elderly in society and in the process of development. It would be
well, therefore, to create a wide range of opportunities to make use of the
potential, experiences, and expertise of older persons. This approach and
attitude will enable them both to remain connected to society and to continue to
make a mark in the world, whether for volunteerism or work. Further, and perhaps
more importantly, carving out a niche for the elderly starting from the simple
and continued appreciation of their presence by their own family will prevent
their stigmatization and exclusion.

"In many
societies, caring for dependent and sick individuals is done by older people,
particularly older women. In that context, it is important that the availability
of, and access to primary health care for older persons be integrated within a
larger process of development, with a focus on their specific medical needs and
adequate nutrition. These processes might include a safety net where pensions
and other schemes are inadequate.

"While it is true
that the social protection of the elderly is a main responsibility of
Governments and private institutions, the Holy See reaffirms the important role
also of the family in their comprehensive security, as well as in mental,
physical, and spiritual health.

"For its part, the
Holy See offers its support to older persons through various assistance
programs. At present, Catholic agencies and organizations in every continent
care for the aged in over 13,000 facilities, including more than 500 centers in
Africa, 3,000 in the Americas, and 1,400 in Asia.

".
. .While social security programs and medical benefits are essential, my
delegation notes here how important are compassion, love, respect, appreciation,
and fondness for the elderly. We encourage Governments to teach in schools these
values with respect to the elderly, members of civil society to exercise them in
the home and for such values to be continuously promoted in the
media.

"Social support services are an extension of
the common duty to provide for older family members who are neglected, in order
to reduce the impact of globalization-driven migration and family fragmentation.
In low income countries where informal employment and poverty coexist, the
nutritional status of the elderly is at risk oftentimes because of poverty,
responsibility for supporting grandchildren, living alone, and a whole variety
of age-related disabilities. A basic social pension and the protection of
pension rights are important ways to reach and support the
elderly.

"The projected demographic transition
demonstrates a dramatic increase in numbers of the elderly by 2050, noting the
transition from a regime of high fertility and high mortality to low population
growth, both in developed and in developing countries. According to the
statistics, today there are more than six hundred million people who are over
sixty years of age, and it is estimated that by 2050 they will be more than
three times that number. It is also calculated that by 2030, 71% of this elderly
population will live in developing countries and between 12% and 16% will be in
developed countries.

"These trends teach us two
things: first, that every country must become and remain, as the Madrid Summit
of 2002 fittingly said, 'a society for all ages' and second, that extra caution
may be advisable when fiscal and international policies enter the realm of human
engineering. . ."

Only Jesus Christ Can Truly Set Us
Free

The 25th Meeting For Friendship Among
Peoples was held in Rimini on the Adriatic Coast of Italy during the week of
August 21. The theme of the meeting this year was "Freedom is the greatest
good that the Heavens have bestowed upon humanity."

Pope Benedict XVI had Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, send a
message in his name to Bishop Mariano De Nicolo of Rimini. Cardinal
Sodano's message, dated July 25, follows:

"With this
Message, the Holy Father makes himself spiritually present with deep joy at the
26th Meeting in Rimini on the theme: Freedom is the greatest good that the
Heavens have bestowed upon humanity.

"At a moment in
history and culture when nothing is as misunderstood as the term 'freedom,' this
year's theme is extraordinarily important. It is quite true: above all, God has
our freedom at heart. He wants us to be free, He loves us as free people, even
to the point that He accepts the risk of allowing us to drift away from Him,
while He preserves within us the possibility of recognizing Him without inner
limitations.

"But why does God love our freedom? It
is because He sees in us the image of His Incarnate Son, Who freely complied
with the Father's plan, freely accepted a body, and freely humbled Himself even
to death on the Cross, in that sacrificial oblation which every day the
Sacrament of the Eucharist actualizes on the altar.

"We too will experience true freedom only when, complying with Christ's plan
without reserve, we can also share in His freedom.

"Genuine freedom is therefore the fruit of a personal encounter with Jesus. In
Him, God gives and restores to us that freedom we would otherwise have lost
forever because of our first parents' sin.

"What
happened to the Samaritan woman of whom John speaks in his Gospel (cf. 4:5-43)
happens to each one of us: she felt inwardly reborn and had the perception of
returning to being truly free in the encounter with that 'Man' Who told her
everything she ever did and revealed to her His true face and
destiny.

"On the other hand, the rich young man (cf.
Mt 19:16-22) did indeed recognize the possibility of human fulfillment in the
Lord but could not muster the courage to follow Him radically, for, as the
Gospel says, he had too many possessions. He erroneously presumed that true
freedom, which he ardently desired, was free from the restrictions and bonds
that go with every form of obedience.

"Thus,
although to all appearances he remained free to act according to his own
autonomous choices, he went away sad.

"We can
certainly attempt to build our lives on doing without Christ, but only if we are
prepared to suffer the consequences of being lonely and forlorn
forever.

"The Message that the Holy Father sends to
all those who are taking part in the meeting is that it is Jesus Christ alone
Who sets us free!

"It is impossible to think of
freedom without reflecting on the term 'liberation,' which is part of your
Movement's name. Jesus is our liberation! Liberation from sin, from our false
desires, ultimately, from ourselves.

"Ubi fides ibi
et libertas; these words, spoken on the occasion of the late Mons. Giussani's
funeral, His Holiness now confirms, repeating that liberation is the most
beautiful existential reverberation to which faith can give rise in our
lives.

"With these sentiments, the Holy Father sends
to the participants his very best wishes for the successful outcome of the
meeting, and he imparts his Blessing to everyone as a pledge of abundant
heavenly favors. . ."

Moratorium On Landmines
Urged

Mons. Silvano Tomasi, C.S., intervened on
behalf of the Vatican, urging a moratorium on the use, stockpiling, production,
and transfer or exportation of landmines. The intervention came on August
4 in Geneva, Switzerland, at a meeting of the U.N.

Mons. Tomasi's statement follows:

"Since the Second
World War, the use of mines in about 20 conflicts in Asia, Africa, Europe, the
Middle East, and Latin America has left us with sufficient hindsight,
information, and experience to make an objective and well-grounded judgment of
the viewpoint of international humanitarian law and a strictly pragmatic vision
regarding the consequences of the use of a whole category of
weapons.

"Humanitarian organizations, United Nations
agencies and development agencies, have unanimously recognized the need for
serious reflection on the legitimacy of the use of mines. The deceased, injured,
and handicapped victims of landmines can be counted by the thousands, and it is
not difficult to perceive the obstacles to the return of refugees and,
consequently, to the development of numerous regions contaminated by unexploded
landmines.

"Some countries that stockpile landmines
have realized their very high failure rate. They have therefore decided to
remove from their military inventories certain types of mines whose use would
pose a grave humanitarian problem, disproportionate to any military benefit. One
can only hail such cautious and responsible
decisions.

"It is in this spirit that my Delegation
understands the resolution of the European Parliament adopted in 2004, which
calls for an immediate moratorium on the use, stockpiling, production and
transfer or exportation of landmines. . .

"A pause
for reflection is essential. But it would be insufficient and inadequate to
limit reflection to the matter of improving the quality of mines, knowing that
such weapons were not conceived as precise weapons; on the contrary, they are
scattered over large surface areas.

"This makes the
principle of distinction between military and civil targets extremely difficult,
if not impossible, to observe, especially in densely populated
regions.

"Moreover, even if it were possible to
reduce the failure rate of landmines, the consequences continue to be
sufficiently serious to require further discussion on this weapon's very nature,
and not merely on the quality of its manufacture and the technological means to
improve it. Imprecision and the high rate of unexploded ordinance call the
legitimacy of this weapon into question. . .

"To
conclude, the Holy Spirit is of the opinion that consultations in this field are
more than necessary; they should begin without delay and include the States, the
NGOs, the CICR, and all who are involved in humanitarian mine
clearance.

"While awaiting the results of these
consultations, however, the international community cannot and must not be
satisfied with counting the victims and assessing the damage caused by
landmines.

"If, for various reasons, it is
impossible to come to an immediate agreement on the definitive banning of the
production and use of this sort of weapon, the Holy See vigorously supports the
idea of a moratorium on the proposals, while awaiting the adoption of an
adequate international instrument. . ."

Light to the Nations: A
Christian Perspective on World News

Celebrating 25 Years Of
Solidarity

Castel Gandolfo, Italy – The Polish independent trade union
Solidarity (Solidarnosc) recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. On
August 23, Pope Benedict XVI sent a letter to Archbishop Dziwisz of Krakow,
Poland, who was his envoy to the celebration.

The
Pope's letter, said in part:

"Twenty-five years have
passed since the memorable days during which the workers in the dockyards of
Gdansk, and subsequently in other industrial establishments, gave birth to the
trade union movement that took the name 'Solidarnosc.'. .
.

"We are all aware of the great importance that the
birth of this trade union has had in the events of Poland and in the history of
the whole of Europe. Not only did it peacefully bring about unexpected political
changes in Poland, setting the Polish People on the path of freedom and
democracy, but it also pointed out to other peoples of the former Eastern Bloc
the possibility of atoning for the historical injustice that left them behind
the 'Iron Curtain.'

"I know how dear to the heart of
my great Predecessor, the Servant of God John Paul II, it was that this act of
historical justice take place, and that Europe breathe with her two lungs – the
Western and the Eastern. I know how he supported 'Solidarnosc' with his
authority and, when necessary, also with skillful
diplomacy.

"I also know that it was a just cause
whose best proof is the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the admittance to the
European Union of the countries which had remained behind it after the Second
World War.

"I congratulate the Poles who had the
courage, with the Church's support, to unite spirits, ideas, and forces, and
their union has borne fruit throughout Europe to this day. I cordially hope that
everyone may enjoy not only freedom, but also the financial well-being of the
Country, both families and individual citizens.

"Please convey my greeting to the Authorities of the Republic, to the former and
current activists of the Independent Union 'Solidarnosc,' as well as to the
other participants in the Jubilee celebration. . ."

(Source:
L'Osservatore Romano English edition)

Pray The
News

Because we are sons and daughters of God,
saved by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we do not merely read the news
but make the news. We direct the course of world events by faith expressed
in action and intercession. Please pray for the stories covered in this
paper. Clip out this intercessory list and make it part of your daily
prayer.

We pray that Americans will seek the
will of God and vote in the November elections.

We pray that Christians will seek political office and follow the moral and
social teachings of the Church.

We pray that
society will reach out especially to young people and to the elderly and will
treat them with dignity and respect.

We pray in
thanksgiving for the lives and examples of the
saints.

We pray that this Thanksgiving Day will
be a time of grateful thanksgiving to God and of sharing the Good News of Jesus
with others.

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